Making Plans against All Odds : LED in Small Towns of the Free State Province, South Africa

Abstract

Since the transition to democracy, there has been an increasing emphasis on local
economic development (LED) in South Africa. The LED efforts in three small municipalities
of the Free State Province are examined against the international framework for
LED planning and implementation. Often, LED is limited to numerous small capital
projects and that it is neither regarded as an integral part of all projects nor directed
at addressing the real structural problems associated with the economies of small
towns. Moreover, in most cases they are not sustainable, but are dependent on
constant funding. Local municipalities could make a bigger impact on the local
economy, by considering LED as an integral part of service delivery and functioning.

Africa Insight Vol. 38 (1) 2008: pp. 53-66